Every beach bride dreams of a clean beautiful beach for their wedding ceremony. Climate change and threats to We support that vision and believe it’s important to support our planet. We first visited the Te mana o te Moana sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center in 2012. Located on the island of Moorea in the South Pacific, the foundation has been providing care to distressed sea turtles since 2004. With the help of the Intercontinental Hotel, Vibrequin swimwear, Air Tahiti, Paul Gauguin Cruises, and other sponsors the Polynesian turtle population has thrived in this unique habitat. We were touched by the dedication and compassion of the volunteers in the program. These beautiful sea turtles melted our hearts. The experience changed our lives and we hoped that one day we could return to support this amazing natural conservatory.
A few years later our daughter was born. Our visit to the turtle island sanctuary was one of our favorite memories and we named her Moorea. During the COVID 19 pandemic, we decided life was too short to talk about helping the planet and decided to really try and make a difference. We knew we’d need help. Most of the brides we’ve worked with have been genuinely empathetic and kind. The ones we surveyed loved the concept. We decided to go for it and launched the Beach Bride Sea Turtle Rescue initiative from our tiny home office in Ocean City, MD.
How Can One Bride Help?
The beautiful image at the top of this page is a photo we took during our time at the sea turtle shelter. This tropical paradise is a protected sanctuary for endangered sea turtles that were rescued by the Te mana o te Moana Turtle Clinic. The image is available as wall mounted art or a digital download for your computer or phone.
We’re creating a unique line of BBSTR Bridal Gift Bags & Honey Money boxes that will launch in December. The proceeds will be used to adopt and care for turtles on the island. In the spring of 2021 (if COVID lets us) we’ll be returning to the shelter to volunteer, help clean the beach, and create a documentary to raise awareness for sea turtle conservation. We’re hoping to create a children’s book dedicated to the habitat protection of these endangered beauties. We’re lining up sponsors to help offset the costs. We’re hoping beach brides can join us in the effort by purchasing an eco friendly gift bag and supporting the health of our beaches and wildlife.
Our Honeymoon is a travel journal that also supports sea turtle preservation efforts. The cover image also uses the image from the same image of the sea turtle sanctuary within Moorea’s Intercontinental resort. You’ll also find that same beautiful image on our Ordination of Ministry certificates awarded to aspiring wedding officiants who have supported the cause. If you’re getting a friend or family member to perform your ceremony, please send them to this site. We’re hoping beach brides across the world will embrace the challenge of keeping beaches clean and safe for future generations to enjoy. Thank you for supporting this project.
Sean & Cassandra Rox
Is Moorea the Most Beautiful Island in the World?
Laorana, welcome to Moorea! This French Polynesian paradise is the pearl of the South Pacific. Moorea is a small mountainous island 9 miles northwest of Tahiti. Renowned for its unspoiled awe-inspiring landscapes and beaches, it has become a popular Honeymoon destination. Arthur Frommer of Frommer’s Travel Guide declared it to be the most beautiful island in the world. The island was formed from a Volcano about two million years ago. Moorea means “Yellow Lizard” in Tahitian and there is an abundance of exotic wildlife roaming freely across the sparsely inhabited island. Most visitors take a ferry from nearby Tahiti, which is visible from the higher altitudes. They built a tiny airport in 1967 that is serviced daily by Air Tahiti Nui.
The best place to stay in Moorea is the Intercontinental Resort. This amazing property features several overwater bungalows that sit on a picturesque lagoon protected from the waves of the ocean. We enjoyed strolls over the wooden bridges that connected the pools to the wildlife sanctuaries. The resort is a safe harbor and breeding ground for endangered sea turtles. They also have a dolphin training center. Guests have the opportunity to swim with these amazing creatures and learn about their special abilities. We spent as much time as we could at this enchanting sanctuary. We felt truly blessed to work with amazing creatures. Working with sea turtles touched our souls. They’re such beautiful creatures and we could watch them swim around the lagoon all day. The staff that worked there were wonderful and we were grateful to have had an opportunity to see first hand the important work they do to sustain and preserve these endangered beauties.
We took a circle island tour in a 4×4 jeep to see the more remote areas of Moorea. A 62-kilometer road wraps around the exterior of the island. The rugged interior requires a powerful vehicle to get you up the mountains. We ascended Mount Tohi’e’a and enjoyed a panoramic vista overlooking Opunohu Bay and Cook’s Bay. After settling in Tahiti, Captain James Cook set sail for Moorea in the 18th Century. The first European to lay eyes on the island, they named the bay where he landed in his honor. We also rode up to the lookout of Mount Belvedere. This awe-inspiring perch was the setting for the semi-popular Mel Gibson film “The Bounty”; yet another Hollywood homage to the infamous “Mutiny on the Bounty” and the legendary Captain Cook.
We also visited the horses in Teavaro Valley and inspected a pineapple plantation. After an arduous day of trekking, we refreshed with a delightful glass of fresh Pineapple juice – straight from the farm. Sitting on the hilltop overlooking Pao Pao Bay, it was the best glass of Pineapple juice we’ve ever had! Moorea is a tiny island and you can see it all in a few days. It is remote, pristine, and aesthetically superb – the perfect spot to get in touch with nature. We’re glad we were able to experience this amazing journey to one of the planet’s hidden gems of solitude – it truly was an island paradise!
